CFP: Forces of Nature: Natural(-izing) Gender and Gender(-ing) Nature in the Discourses of Western Culture (2/1/07; collection)

Forces of Nature will be a peer-reviewed, academic book that fills thegap left by scholars of Gender Studies, Queer Theory, film andliterature of Western cultures. The co-editors are under contract withCambridge Scholars Press (http://www.cambridgescholarspress.com/).Forces of Nature will analyze the connections between the natural world,gender, and sexuality as found in modern ‘texts’ drawn from Westernliterature such as myths, fairy tales, poetry, novels, drama, and film. Contributors to the book specifically explore the myriad ways in whichearth, wind, water, fire, and even animal life serve to acknowledgeand/or question conceptions of gendered experience. Given that Forces ofNature blurs the margins between masculinity and femininity, all thewhile exposing gender as an artificial construct, the book will be athought provoking resource for students and scholars engaged withcriticism of literature, film, and gender.

Forces of Nature will feature several chapters authored by researcherswhose studies of Western literature and film explore the humanconnection to the earth at its most elementary level. Contributions areedited by Bernadette Hyner and Precious McKenzie. Forces of Nature willspan over approximately 300 pages and will be ready for publication inDecember 2008.

Submit detailed abstracts for consideration (Word doc, 500 words) withcontact information no later than February 1, 2007 topmmckenz_at_mail.usf.edu and hynerbh_at_wsu.edu. Completed manuscripts are dueno later than August 15, 2007.